GOP Predicting Victories

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Republican Party officials say they're taking nothing for granted in this year's elections for state House and Senate seats, but it's hard for them to hide their optimism.

The Oklahoma Legislature was essentially controlled by the Democratic Party since statehood, but Republicans captured the Oklahoma House in 2004 and, for the first time in state history, the Senate in 2008.

Now the GOP hopes to add a Republican governor to the mix and expand its 26-22 majority in the Senate and its 62-39 advantage in the House. Even if Democrats sweep every challenged seat in the Oklahoma Senate, the best they could manage is a 24-24 tie.

Primary elections will be held Tuesday, and early voting began Friday morning and continues Saturday and Monday at county election board offices.